DREAM TEAM managers should be taking stock of their players during this international break.
A flurry of fixtures will take place across the next four Gameweeks before another momentary pause for international commitments in November.
It’s imperative gaffers ditch the dead weight and replace any under-performing assets with in-form stars if they are to make the most of this crucial period.
Gordon has failed to replicate his 2023/24 form this season[/caption]
This brings us onto the topic of Anthony Gordon (£4.5m), who has the unwanted distinction of being the most-popular outfield player in Dream Team yet to reach the 50-point mark.
Emi Martinez (£3.7m) is the most-selected player overall still short of a half-century but the bar is lower for goalkeepers as they tend to earn fewer points across the board.
The World Cup winner is currently fifth among assets in his position and just ten points behind leader David Raya (£5.1m) – he’s not a problem.
The same can’t be said for Gordon, however, who is currently 24th among midfielders, behind the likes of Mario Lemina (£3.2m), Antoine Semenyo (£3.1m) and Christian Eriksen (£3.1m).
Such are the fine margins, Newcastle’s No10 would have climbed into the top 15 midfielders had he converted his penalty against former club Everton in Gameweek 7.
But we can only gauge him on his actual points total at this stage, which has to be considered underwhelming.
One goal from open play represents an underwhelming return from nine outings[/caption]
Expectations of Gordon were high prior to Gameweek 1 after his impressive 2023/24 campaign, as evidenced by the fact he was among the most-popular players in the game during pre-season.
He’s still the seventh-most selected midfielder at the time of writing.
The Magpies have enjoyed a relatively positive start to the season having lost just one of their nine games in all competitions so far but Gordon has contributed just two goals (one a penalty) – the 23-year-old is yet to provide an assist.
It’s sometimes the case that a player has been a tad unlucky not to notch more goal involvements but Gordon’s underlying numbers are concerning.
He’s registered five shots on target in nine outings this season and created just one big chance for his team-mates.
For comparison, defenders Ola Aina (£2.7m), Tyrick Mitchell (£3.2m) and Micky van de Ven (£4m) are among the vast number of players to have created more big chances across the first seven Gameweeks.
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Gordon’s missed penalty against Everton may be the last straw for some Dream Team bosses[/caption]
This is not to say Gordon has suddenly regressed into a bad player – his tally of 13 bonus points is only bettered by James Maddison (£4.5m) and Eberechi Eze (£4.9m) – but Dream Team bosses should acknowledge that his returns have fallen short of expectations.
Newcastle’s fixture list suggests the England international may have a hard time of improving his form in the coming weeks.
Eddie Howe’s side are due to face Brighton, Chelsea (x2) and Arsenal in their next four games.
In terms of replacements, Tottenham midfielders Brennan Johnson (£3.8m) and the aforementioned Maddison are available at no additional cost – in fact the former is £0.7m cheaper than Gordon right now.
MOST-POPULAR OUTFIELD PLAYERS YET TO ACHIEVE 50 POINTS THIS SEASON
- Anthony Gordon (14.1% ownership) – 45 pts
- Marc Guehi (11.4%) – 40 pts
- Cristian Romero (10.8%) – 44 pts
- Phil Foden (9.8%) – 30 pts
- Micky van de Ven (9.5%) – 38 pts
- Alexander Isak (9.1%) – 28 pts
- Morgan Rogers (8.5%) – 43 pts
- Bruno Fernandes (7.6%) – 40 pts
- Emile Smith Rowe (7.6%) – 35 pts
- Riccardo Calafiori (6.8%) – 32 pts
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